Alpha-substituted thio, -oxo trifluoromethylketones as phospholipase inhibitors

ABSTRACT

Inhibitors of the cytosolic phospholypase A2 enzymes are provided which are of use in controlling a wide variety of inflammatory diseases. The inhibitors of the present invention have the general formulawhere X, Z, X1, R1, R2, Ra and Rb are as defined in the specification.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/186,095 filed Mar. 1, 2000 and No. 60/183,620 filed Feb. 18, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to certain alpha-substituted thio and oxo trifluoromethylketone compounds, their salts, hydrates and derivatives thereof, a process for their preparation, intermediates useful in their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and such ketone compounds as inhibitors of phospholipase A2 enzymes that are involved in the human inflammatory diseases and are thus useful agents in the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as asthma, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and neurodegenerative diseases.

II. Background of the Invention and Description of the Prior Art

Inflammatory diseases of the skin, such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, afflict greater than 5% of the population. And the inflammatory disease such as asthma affects more than 10 million people in U.S. alone. Currently, the treatment of these disorders typically involves topical use or inhalation of corticosteroids and bronchodilators. However, these agents also have undesirable side effects such as skin atrophy which limit the duration of therapy. In addition, topical application of a drug is difficult for many patients where the affected area may be very large.

Phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) is the common name for phosphatide 2-acylhydrolase which catalyzes the hydrolysis of the sn-2-acyl ester bond of phosphoglycerides and results in production of lysophospholipids and free fatty acids. When the fatty acid is arachidonic acid, further action by cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase enzymes results in eicosanoid production, which is implicated in inflammation, and leukotrienes which are linked to asthma. Lysophophospholipid metabolism results in production of platelet activating factor and both lysophospholipids and platelet activating factor also play a role in inflammation.

PLA₂ enzymes exist as secreted forms (MW˜12,000-15,000) and cytosolic forms (MW˜85,000). The cytosolic or cPLA₂ enzymes appear to play a key role in the pathway leading to the formation of platelet activating factor and the eicosanoids.

Inappropriate activation of the cytosolic PLA₂ enzymes, therefore, can result in a variety of chronic and acute conditions including asthma, cerebral ischemia [Clemens et al., Stroke, 1996, 27: 527-535], Alzheimer's Disease [Stephenson et al., Neurobiology of Stroke, 1996, 3: 51-63 and see also U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,857], rheumatoid arthritis, neutrophil and platelet activation [Huang et al., Mediators of Inflammation, 1994, 3: 307-308], chronic skin inflammation and damage to the skin resulting from exposure to ultraviolet light [Gresham et al., American Journal of Physiology, 1996, 270; Cell Physiology, 39: C1037-C1050] and macrophage activation [Balsinde et al., Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1996, 271: 6758-6765].

Inhibitors of the cPLA₂ enzymes may, therefore, be of use in controlling a wide variety of inflammatory diseases. The literature describes a significant number of compounds said to be phospholipase A₂ inhibitors.

Biochemistry, 1993, 32: 5935-5940, discloses a trifluoromethyl ketone analog of arachidonic acid having the formula

as a selective inhibitor of cPLA₂.

Bioorganic Med. Chem. Lett., 1995, 5: 519-522, discloses selective cPLA2 inhibitors of the formula

where R is either H or OH.

Japanese published Patent Application JP09268153A (Derwent No. 97-554679/51) discloses cPLA₂ inhibitors of the formula RCOCF₃ where RCO is an acyl residue of an n-3 series highly unsaturated fatty acid. The compounds are said to be useful as antiinflammatory or antiallergic drugs.

Certain trifluoromethylketone have been disclosed as inhibitors of fatty acidamide hydrolase in Bioorg. & Med. Chem. Lett., 1999, 9: 265-270.

Published PCT Application WO 98/25893 discloses arylsulfonamide compounds of the general formula

wherein:

A represents a C₄-C₁₀ alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, radicals selected from the group consisting of —CH═CH—B, —O—B, —S—B, and —NH—B, or radicals of formula —CH₂—X,

wherein:

B represents a non-aromatic C₃-C₈ carbocycle, a C₃-C₈ alkyl group, a heterocycle or an arylalkyl group, each of which is optionally substituted with one or more members independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄ alkyl group, a C₁-C₄ alkoxy group, cyano, nitro, a heterocycle, an aryl group and an aryloxy group, and

X is a member selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, —S-aryl, —S-heterocycle, and —PO₃R₂ wherein each R is independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and C₁-C₃ alkyl;

R¹ and R² each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, or a group represented by the formula: —(CH₂)_(q)—A′ wherein q is an integer of 2 to 4, and A′ is a member selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a group represented by the formula:

wherein R⁵ and R⁶ each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, or a group represented by the formula:

wherein R⁷ represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, or a group represented by the formula:

wherein s is an integer of 2 to 5; or

R¹ and R² each independently represent an unsubstituted cycloalkyl group, or a cycloalkyl substituted with a lower alkyl or halogen or condensed with an aromatic ring, a bicycloalkyl, or tricycloalkyl, said bicycloalkyl or tricycloalkyl being an aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon group made of two or three rings, respectively, with at least two carbon atoms being common to each ring, or an azabicycloalkyl group which is a bicycloalkyl group as described above in which one carbon atom is replaced by a nitrogen atom or a group represented by the formula:

wherein g and h are each an integer of 1 to 4, and B′ stands for a lower alkyl group, an arylalkyl group, an arylalkyl group substituted by lower alkyl; halogen or a lower alkoxy group, or a pyridylalkyl group, or a pyridylalkyl group substituted with a lower alkyl group, a halogen or a lower alkoxy group; or

R¹ and R² may be combined together to form a 6- or 7-membered ring which may contain a nitrogen or oxygen atom in addition to the nitrogen atom to which R¹ and R² are bonded, and said 6- or 7-membered ring may be substituted with a lower alkyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl or heteroarylalkyl group;

R³ represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, or a C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl group;

R⁴ represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group or a halogen atom;

n is an integer of 1 to 4, provided that when n is 2, the two R⁴ groups may form a cyclohexenyl or phenyl ring together with two adjacent carbon atoms constituting the benzene ring; and any pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof as inhibitors of phospholipase A₂ activity, particularly cPLA₂.

The published PCT Application WO 98/08818 discloses Inhibitors of phospholipase enzymes of formulae I, II and III.

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

A is independent of any other group and is selected from the group consisting of —CH₂— and —CH₂—CH₂—;

B is independent of any other group and is selected from the group consisting of —(CH₂)_(n)—, —(CH₂O)_(n)—, —(CH₂S)_(n)—, —(OCH₂)_(n)—, —(SCH₂)_(n)—, —(CH═CH)_(n)—, —(C≡C)_(n)—, —CON(R₆)—, —N(R₆)CO—, —O—, —S—and —N(R₆)—;

R₁ is independent of any other R group and is selected from the group consisting of —X—R₆, —H, —OH—, halogen, —CN, —NO₂, C₁-C₅ alkyl, alkenyl, alkinyl, aryl and substituted aryl;

R₂ is independent of any other R group and is selected from the group consisting of —H, —COOH, —COR₅, —CONR₅R₆, —(CH₂)_(n)—W—(CH₂)_(m)—Z—R₅, —(CH₂)_(n)—W—R₅, —Z—R₅, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, alkenyl and substituted aryl;

R₃ is independent of any other R group and is selected from the group consisting of —H, —COOH, —COR₅, —CONR₅R₆, —(CH₂)_(n)—W—(CH₂)_(m)—Z—R₅, —(CH₂)_(n)—W—R₅, —Z—R₅, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, alkenyl and substituted aryl;

R₄ is independent of any other R group and is selected from the group consisting of —H, —OH, OR₆, SR₆, —CN, —COR₆, —NHR₆, —COOH, —CONR₆R₇, —NO₂, —CONHSO₂R₈, C₁-C₅ alkyl, alkenyl and substituted aryl;

R₅ is independent of any other R group and is selected from the group consisting of —H, —OH, —O(CH₂)_(n)R₆, —SR₆, —CN, —COR₆, —NHR₆, —COOH, —NO₂, —COOH, —CONR₆R₇, —CONHSO₂R₈, C₁-C₅ alkyl, alkenyl, alkinyl, aryl, substituted aryl, —CF₃, —CF₂CF₃ and

R₆ is independent of any other R group and is selected from the group consisting of —H, C₁-C₅ alkyl, alkenyl, alkinyl, aryl and substituted aryl;

R₇ is independent of any other R group and is selected from the group consisting of —H, C₁-C₅ alkyl, alkenyl, alkinyl, aryl and substituted aryl;

R₈ is independent of any other R group and is selected from the group consisting of C₁-C₃ alkyl, aryl and substituted aryl;

R₉ is independent of any other R group and is selected from the group consisting of—H, —OH, a halogen, —CN, —OR₆, —COOH, —CONR₆R₇, tetrazole, —CONHSO₂R₈, —COR₆, —(CH₂)_(n)CH(OH)R₆ and —(CH₂)_(n)CHR₆R₅;

R₁₀ is independent of any other R group and is selected from the group consisting of —H, —OH, a halogen, —CN, —OR₆, —COOH, —CONR₆R₇, tetrazole, —CONHSO₂R₈, —COR₆, —(CH₂)_(n)CH(OH)R₆ and —(CH₂)_(n)CHR₆R₅;

W is, independent each time used including within the same compound, selected from the group consisting of —O—, —S—, —CH₂—, —CH═CH—, —C≡C—and —N(R₆)—;

X is independent of any other group and is, independently each time used including within the same compound, selected from the group consisting of —O—, —S— and —N(R₆)—;

Z is independent of any other group and is, independently each time used including within the same compound, selected from the group consisting of —CH₂—, —O—, —S—, —N(R₆)—, —CO—, —CON(R₆)— and —N(R₆)CO—;

m is, independently each time used including within the same compound, an integer from 0 to 4; and

n is independently of m and is, independently each time used including within the same compound, an integer from 0 to 4.

Drugs, 1998, 1(1): 49-50 discloses a limited series of cPLA₂ inhibitors as shown below

R₁ R₂ X CH₃ CH₃(CH₂)₉ O (1) CH₃(CH₂)₉— O (1) Ph(CH₂)₅ S (1) CH₃(CH₂)₉— SO₂

U.S. Pat. No. 5,866,318 relates to methods for inhibiting cell death in mammalian cells, particularly in neuronal cells, by administering a suitable inhibitor of phospholipase A₂ activity, typically an inhibitor of cPLA₂.

WO 97/21676 Patent discloses certain azetidinone compounds as phospholipase inhibitors in the treatment of atherosclerosis.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,453,443 discloses a series of biaryl ketones which are reported to inhibit PLA2 enzymes. These compounds have the generic formula

wherein:

R¹ is selected from

(a) hydrogen,

(b) —C₁₋₆alkyl, and

(c) —C₁₋₆alkyl-phenyl;

or wherein R¹ and R⁵ are joined such that together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached there is formed a saturated or unsaturated carbon ring of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 atoms;

R² and R³ are each independently selected from

(a) hydrogen,

(b) —C₁₋₆alkyl, and

(c) —C₁₋₆alkyl-phenyl;

or wherein two R² or two R³ are joined such that together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached there is formed a saturated or unsaturated carbon ring of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 atoms;

R⁵ is as defined above or is selected from

(a) hydrogen,

(b) —C₁₋₆alkyl,

(c) —C₁₋₆alkyl-phenyl C₁₋₆alkyl,

(d) —OH,

(e) —O—C₁₋₆alkyl, or

(f) —O—C₁₋₆alkyl-phenyl C₁₋₆alkyl;

R⁶ is selected from

(a) hydrogen,

(b) —C₁₋₆alkyl,

(c) —C₁₋₆alkyl-phenyl, wherein the phenyl is optionally substituted with C₁₋₂alkyl;

(d) —OH,

(e) —O—C₁₋₆alkyl, or

(f) —C₁₋₆alkyl-phenyl, wherein the phenyl is optionally substituted with C₁₋₂alkyl;

or wherein two R⁶ are joined to form O═ or are joined together such that together with the carbon atom to which they are attached there is formed a saturated or unsaturated carbon ring of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 atoms;

R⁸, R⁹ and R¹⁴ are each independently selected from

(a) H,

(b) —C₁₋₆alkyl,

(c) halo,

(d) —CN,

(e) —OH,

(f) —OC₁₋₆alkyl,

(g) —OC₁₋₆alkyl-phenyl,

(h) —SR¹¹,

(i) S(O)R¹¹, or

(j) S(O)₂R¹¹;

R¹⁰, R¹⁵, R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ are each independently selected from

(a) hydrogen,

(b) —C₁₋₆ alkyl, and

(c) —C₁₋₆ alkyl-phenyl;

R¹¹ is selected from

(a) —C₁₋₆ alkyl,

(b) —C₂₋₆ alkenyl,

(c) —CF₃,

(d) -phenyl(R¹²)₂, or

(e) —C₂₋₆ alkenyl-phenyl(R¹²)₂;

R¹² is

(a) hydrogen,

(b) —C₁₋₆ alkyl,

(c) Cl, F, I or Br;

R¹³ is perfluoro C₁₋₆alkyl;

A and B are each independently

(a) covalent bond,

(b) O,

(c) S,

(d) S(O), or

(e) S(O)₂;

Q is selected from

(a) —CH(OH)R¹³,

(b) —COR¹³,

(c) —COR¹⁶,or

(d) —C₁₋₄alkylCOCOOR¹⁷;

X¹ is selected from

(a) —O—,

(b) —S—,

(c) —S(O)—,

(d) —S(O)₂—;

Z is

(a) H, or

(b) -phenyl-(R¹⁴)₃;

m is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;

n is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7; and

r and s are each independently 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8.

Published application WO 99/15129 discloses selective cPLA₂ inhibitors having the formula

wherein W is CH═CH, CH═N, O or S;

R¹ is (C₁-C₆)alkyl, (C₂-C₆)alkenyl, (C₂-C₆)alkynyl, (C₁-C₆)alkoxy,

(C₁-C₆)alkylthio, halo, hydroxy, cyano,

 in which R² and R³ are each independently hydrogen or (C₁-C₆)alkyl, —COO—(C₁-C₆)alkyl, CF₃, (C₁-C₆)alkylphenyl, phenyl or phenyl substituted by one or more,

preferably 1-3, of (C₁-C₆)alkyl, —COO—(C₁-C₆)alkyl,

 in which R² and R³ are as defined above, halo, hydroxy, —O—(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —S—(C₁-C₆)alkyl or (C₂-C₆)alkenyl;

p is 0, 1 or 2;

A is V—(R^(c))_(n)—;

R^(c) is a straight or branched chain alkyl group;

n is 0 or an integer of from 1 to 6;

R^(a) and R^(b) when taken together form an oxo (═O) group, or R^(a) and R^(b) are each independently hydrogen or OH;

V is O, —S—, —SO—, —SO₂, —CONH or NHCO when n is an integer of from 1 to 6 or V is (C₂-C₆) alkenyl or a bond when n is 0 or an integer of from 1 to 6;

D is —(CH₂)_(m) or a bond linking the

 ring to Y;

m is an integer of from 1 to 6;

Y is —O—, —S—, —SO—, —SO₂;

 or a bond;

R⁴ is as defined below for R⁷;

Z is

in which B is:

X is S or O;

q is an integer from 1 to 6;

R⁹ is hydrogen or (C₁-C₆)alkyl;

R¹⁰ is hydrogen, CN, NO₂, OH, —O—(C₁-C₆)alkyl, (C₁-C₆) alkyl, phenyl or (C₁-C₆)alkylphenyl;

R⁵ and R⁶ are each independently hydrogen or (C₁-C₁₈) alkyl;

R⁷ and R⁸ are each independently

(a) hydrogen;

(b) (C₁-C₁₈)alkyl;

(c) (C₁-C₁₈)alkyl substituted by one or more of

(1) phenyl;

(2) phenyl substituted by 1-5 fluoro, 1-3 (for each of the following phenyl substituents) halo (other than fluoro), 1-3 (C₁-C₆)alkoxy, 1-3(C₁-C₆)alkyl, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, trifluoromethyl, (C₁-C₆)alkylthio, amino, 1-3 (C₁-C₆) alkylamino, di(C₁-C₆)alkylamino, —CO₂H, —COO—(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —SO₃H, —SO₂NHR¹⁵ in which R¹⁵ is hydrogen or (C₁-C₆)alkyl, or

 in which R² and R³ are as defined above;

(3) heterocyclic selected from oxadiazolyl, isoxazolyl, oxazolyl, furyl and thiazolyl;

(4) heterocyclic substituted by one or more of, preferably 1-3, phenyl, phenyl substituted by 1-3 (for each of the following) halo, (C₁-C₆)alkoxy, (C₁-C₆)alkyl, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, trifluoromethyl, (C₁-C₆)alkylthio, amino, (C₁-C₆)alkylamino, di(C₁-C₆)alkylamino, CO₂H, —COO—(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —SO₃H, SO₂NHR¹⁵ in which R¹⁵ is hydrogen or (C₁-C₆)alkyl, or

 in which R² and R³ are as defined above, (C₁-C₆)alkyl or (C₁-C₆)alkyl substituted by one or more, preferably 1-3, phenyl or heterocyclic groups, said phenyl or heterocyclic group being unsubstituted or substituted by 1-3 (for each of the following) halo, 1-3 (C₁-C₆)alkoxy, 1-3 (C₁-C₆)alkyl, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, trifluoromethyl, (C₁-C₆)alkylthio, amino, 1-3 (C₁-C₆)alkylamino, di(C₁-C₆)alkylamino, COOH, —COO—(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —SO₃H, —SO₂NHR¹⁵ in which R¹⁵ is hydrogen or (C₁-C₆)alkyl, or

 in which R² and R³ are each independently hydrogen or (C₁-C₆)alkyl, the heterocyclic radical being selected from imidazolyl, oxadiazolyl, isoxazolyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, oxazolyl, furyl, thianyl or thiazolyl;

(5) carboxy or —COO—(C₁-C₆)alkyl;

(6) hydroxy, halo, —O—(C₁-C₆) alkyl or —S—(C₁-C₆)alkyl, with the proviso that the OH, ethers or thioethers cannot be on the carbon bearing the heteroatoms;

(7) cyano;

(8) halo, trifluoromethyl or trifluoroacetyl;

(9) CH₂ L—R¹⁶ in which L is

or —O—SiR¹⁶R¹⁸R¹⁹ or a bond in which R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ are each independently (C₁-C₁₈)alkyl or (C₂-Cl₈)alkenyl or (C₁-C₁₈)alkyl or (C₂-C₁₈)alkenyl substituted by one or more, preferably 1-3, phenyl or heterocyclic radicals, said phenyl or heterocyclic radicals being unsubstituted or substituted by 1-5 fluoro, 1-3 halo (other than fluoro), 1-3 (C₁-C₆)alkoxy, 1-3(C₁-C₆)alkyl, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, 1-3 trifluoromethyl, 1-3 (C₁-C₆)alkylthio, amino, 1-3(C₁-C₆)alkylamino, 1-3 di(C₁-C₆)alkylamino, CO₂H, 1-3 —COO(C₁-C₆)alkyl,

 or —SO₂NHR⁹ in which R⁹ is hydrogen or (C₁-C₆)alkyl and R² and R³ are as defined above;

in which B¹ is

 or a bond; providing that when B¹ is —PO(OR⁹)₂, then R⁷ becomes R⁹, and when B¹ is

 or —SO₂—, then R⁷ cannot be hydrogen;

X, q, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁸, R⁹ and R¹⁰ are as defined in (a);

in which q, R⁵ and R⁶ are as defined above;

R¹⁸, R¹⁹ and R¹¹ are as defined above for R⁷ and R⁸ except that they may not be hydrogen, or R¹⁸ and R¹⁹ taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached represent a 4, 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring and Y, R⁷ and R¹¹ are as defined above, or R¹⁸, R¹⁹ and R¹¹ taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached represent pyridinium, said pyridinium group being unsubstituted or substituted by (C₁-C₁₂)alkyl, (C₁-C₁₂)alkoxy, amino, (C₁-C₁₂)alkylamino, di(C₁-C₁₂)alkylamino,

 —S—(C₁-C₁₂)alkyl,

 in which R² and R³ are as defined above, phenyl or phenyl (C₁-C₁₀)alkyl;

in which R¹³ is (C₁-C₁₈)alkyl or (C₁-C₁₈)alkyl substituted by carboxy,

 in which R² and R³ are as defined above, hydroxy, —O—(C₁-C₆) alkyl, —O—(C₁-C₆) alkyl or —S—(C₁-C₆) alkyl substituted by 1 or 2 phenyl or substituted phenyl groups, the substituents for the substituted phenyl groups being 1-5 fluoro or 1-3 (for each of the following phenyl substituents) halo (other than fluoro), (C₁-C₆)alkoxy, (C₁-C₆)alkyl, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, trifluoromethyl, (C₁-C₆)alkylthio, amino, (C₁-C₆) alkylamino, di(C₁-C₆)-alkylamino, CO₂H, COO—(C₁-C₆) alkyl, SO₃H, SO₂NHR¹⁵ in which R¹⁵ is hydrogen or (C₁-C₆) alkyl or

 in which R² and R³ are as defined above;

r is 0 or an integer of from 1 to 3;

R⁷ is as defined above;

M is —(CH₂—)_(m)T where

 in which R² is as defined above, —SO₂— or a bond when MR⁷ is on nitrogen and providing that when

 then R⁷ cannot be hydrogen, and

 or a bond when MR⁷ is on a carbon atom of the heterocyclic ring;

R¹⁴ is hydrogen or (C₁-C₆)alkyl;

m is 0 or an integer of 1-6;

wherein Q is —O—, —S—, —SO— or —SO₂—, and q, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ are as defined above, providing that when Q is —SO— or —SO₂—, R⁷ cannot be hydrogen;

(f) R⁷ wherein R⁷ is defined above, providing that when Y is —SO— or —SO₂—, R⁷ cannot be hydrogen; and

R¹⁸ and R¹⁹ are phenyl or phenyl substituted by 1-3 halo, (C₁-C₆)alkoxy, (C₁-C₆)alkyl, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, trifluoromethyl, (C₁-C₆)alkylthio, amino, (C₁-C₆)alkylamino, di(C₁-C₆)alkylamino, CO₂H, —COO—(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —SO₃H, SO₂NHR¹⁵ in which R¹⁵ is hydrogen or (C₁-C₆)alkyl, or

 in which R² and R³ are as defined above; or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or prodrugs thereof.

R¹⁸ and R¹⁹ are phenyl or phenyl substituted by 1-3 halo, (C₁-C₆)alkoxy, (C₁-C₆) alkyl, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, trifluoromethyl, (C₁-C₆) alkylthio, amino, (C₁-C₆) alkylamino, di(C₁-C₆)alkylamino, CO₂H, —COO—(C₁-C₆)alkyl, —SO₃H, SO₂NHR¹⁵ in which R¹⁵ is hydrogen or (C₁-C₆)alkyl, or

 in which R² and R³ are as defined above; or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or prodrugs thereof.

There is nothing in any of the foregoing references, or in the general prior art, to suggest the novel alpha substituted thio, oxo-trifluoromethyl-ketones of the present invention as cytosolic phospholipase A2 inhibitors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide novel alpha substituted oxo- or thio-trifluoromethylketone compounds which inhibit cytosolic phopholipase A2 enzymes that are pro-inflammatory mediators. Some of the derivatives covered by the present invention exhibit increased stability and aqueous solubility.

This invention relates to a novel compound of the formula

wherein:

X₁ is O or S(O)_(n);

n is 0, 1 or 2;

R^(a) and R^(b) when taken together form an oxo (═O) group, or R^(a) and R^(b) are each independently hydrogen or OH;

X is H, CF₃, halogen, NR³R⁴, NH(CO)NHR³R⁴, C(O)NR³R⁴, OH, OR⁸, SH, S(O)_(n)R⁸, C(O)OR⁶, NH(CO)OR⁸, C₁-C₇ alkyl, C₂-C₇ alkenyl, C₂-C₇ alkynyl or C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, said alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or cycloalkyl group being optionally substituted by COOR⁶, CN, C(O)NR³R⁴, PO₃R⁶, SO₃R⁶, heterocyclic, OH, OR⁸, SH, S(O)_(n)R⁸, NR³R⁴, NH(CO)NR³R⁴, NH(CO)OR⁸, OC(O)OR⁸, aryl or heteroaryl, said aryl or heteroaryl being optionally substituted by one or two groups independently selected from COOR⁶, SO₃R⁶, OCOR6, PO₃R⁶ or heterocyclic;

R¹ and R² are each independently H, substituted C₁-C₇ alkyl, C₂-C₇ alkenyl, C₂-C₇ alkynyl or C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, said alkyl group being substituted by, and said alkenyl, alkynyl or cycloalkyl group being optionally substituted by, COOR⁶, CN, C(O)NR³R⁴, PO₃R⁶, SO₃R⁶, heterocyclic, OH, OR⁸, SH, S(O)_(n)R⁸, NR³R⁴, NH(CO)NR³R⁴, NH(CO)OR⁸, OC(O)OR⁸, aryl or heteroaryl, said aryl or heteroaryl group being optionally substituted by one or two groups independently selected from COOR⁶, SO₃R⁶, PO₃R⁶ or heterocyclic;

R³ and R⁴ are each independently H, C₁-C₇ alkyl, C₂-C₇ alkenyl, C₂-C₇ alkynyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, heterocyclic or aryl, said alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclic or aryl group being optionally substituted with COOR⁶, CN, OR⁶, NR⁶R⁷, SO₃R⁶, PO₃R⁶, halogen, aryl or heteroaryl, said aryl or heteroaryl substituent being optionally substituted with one or two groups independently selected from COOR⁶, SO₃R⁶, PO₃R⁶ or heterocyclic;

R⁵ is H, C₁-C₇ alkyl or C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, said alkyl or cycloalkyl group being optionally substituted by COOR⁶, CN, C(O)NR³R⁴, PO₃R⁶, SO₃R⁶, heterocyclic, OR³, S(O)_(n)R⁸, NR³R⁴, NH(CO)NR³R⁴, NH(CO)OR⁸, C(O)₂OR⁸, aryl or heteroaryl, said aryl or heteroaryl group being optionally substituted by one or two groups independently selected from COOR⁶, SO₃R⁶, PO₃R⁶ or heterocyclic;

R⁶ and R⁷ are independently H, C₁-C₇ alkyl or C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl;

R⁸ is the same as R³ but cannot be H;

Z is OR⁹, S(O)_(n)R⁹, NR⁹R¹⁰ or CHR⁹R¹⁰;

R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently hydrogen, C₁-C₇ alkyl, C₂-C₇ alkenyl, C₂-C₇ alkynyl or C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, said alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or cycloalkyl group being optionally substituted with NR¹¹R¹², SR¹¹, S(O)R¹⁶, SO₂R¹⁶ or OR¹¹, with the proviso that both R⁹ and R¹⁰ may not both be hydrogen;

R¹¹ and R¹² are each independently H, C₁-C₇ alkyl, C₂-C₇ alkenyl, C₂-C₇ alkynyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl or aryl, said alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl or aryl group being optionally substituted by 1-3 COOR⁶, OR⁶, SiR¹³R¹⁴R¹⁵, OR¹³, aryl, biaryl or heteroaryl, said aryl, biaryl or heteroaryl group being optionally substituted with 1-3 halogen, CF₃, OR⁶, COOR⁶, NO₂ or CN, or R¹¹ and R¹² taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring with one or more O, N or S heteroatoms, said heterocyclic ring being optionally substituted with COOR⁶ or C₁-C₅ alkyl optionally substituted with OR⁶, COOR⁶ or C(O)NR³R⁴; and

R¹³, R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are each independently aryl, benzyl, benzhydryl, biaryl, heteroaryl, aryl(C₁-C₆)alkyl or heteroaryl(C₁-C₆)alkyl, said aryl group being optionally substituted with halogen, CF₃, OR⁶, COOR⁶, NO₂, CN or C₁-C₇ alkyl;

R¹⁶ is the same as R¹¹ and R¹² but is not hydrogen; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, with the proviso that R¹ and R² may not both be hydrogen.

Another aspect of this invention involves methods for inhibiting cytosolic PLA₂ in a mammal in need thereof which comprises administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I and methods for using the compounds of formula I to treat various diseases characterized by inappropriate activation of the cytosolic PLA₂ enzymes such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, cerebral ischemia, Alzheimer's Disease, rheumatoid arthritis, acute pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, gout, neutrophil and platelet activation, chronic skin inflammation, shock, trauma-induced inflammation such as spinal cord injury, damage to the skin resulting from UV light or burns and macrophage activation. In further aspects, the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and processes for preparing the compounds of formula I.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The object of this invention was to discover a selective cPLA₂ inhibitor which is active, both topically and orally, in treating inflammary disease of the skin and other tissues as well as other chronic and acute conditions which have been linked to inappropriate activation of the cPLA₂ enzymes. Preferably such compound would also be devoid of undesirable lipid-perturbing activities associated with skin irritation.

The above-mentioned objectives have been met by the compounds of formula I described above.

In the present application the numbers in the subscript after the symbol “C” define the number of carbon atoms a particular group can contain. For example, “C₁-C₇ alkyl” refers to straight and branched chain alkyl groups with 1 to 7 carbon atoms. Similarly, “C₂-C₇ alkenyl” refers to an unsaturated hydrocarbon group containing from 2 to 7 carbon atoms and at least one carbon-carbon double bond. The term “C₂-C₇ alkynyl” refers to an unsaturated hydrocarbon group containing from 2 to 7 carbon atoms and at least one carbon-carbon triple bond.

The term “halogen” or “halo” as used herein refers to fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine.

“Aryl” as used herein refers to a C₆ monocyclic aromatic ring system or a C₉ or C₁₀ bicyclic carbocyclic ring system having one or two aromatic rings such as phenyl or naphthyl. It may also refer to a C₁₄ tricyclic carbocyclic ring system having two or three aromatic rings such as anthracenyl or phenanthrenyl. Unless otherwise indicated, “substituted aryl” refers to aryl groups substituted with one or more (preferably from 1 to 3) substituents independently selected from (C₁-C₆)alkyl, halo(C₁-C₆)alkyl, (C₁-C₆)alkoxy, (C₁-C₆)alkoxy-carbonyl, (C₁-C₆)alkanoyl, hydroxy, halo, mercapto, nitro, amino, cyano, (C₁-C₆)alkylamino, di(C₁-C₆)alkylamino, carboxy, aryl, aryl (C₁-C₆)alkyl, aryl (C₁-C₆)alkoxy, heterocyclic, heterocyclic (C₁-C₆)alkyl and the like. The term “biaryl” refers to two C₆ monocyclic aromatic ring systems or two C₉ or C₁₀ bicyclic carbocyclic ring systems linked together such as o-, m- and p-biphenyl or o-, m- and p-binaphthyl. The term “heteroaryl” refers to a 5- or 6-membered aromatic ring system or a 9- or 10-membered bicyclic aromatic ring system containing one, two or three heteroatoms selected from N, O and S. The term “benzhydryl” refers to a carbon atom bearing two aryl, bis-aryl or heteroaryl groups.

The term “heterocyclic” as used herein refers to a 4—, 5- or 6-membered ring containing one, two or three heteroatoms selected from N, O and S. The 5-membered ring has 0-2 double bonds and the 6-membered ring has 0-3 double bonds. The nitrogen heteroatoms can be optionally quaternized or N-oxidized. The sulfur heteroatoms can be optionally S-oxidized. The term “heterocyclic” also includes bicyclic groups in which any of the above heterocyclic rings is fused to a benzene ring or a cyclohexane ring or another heterocyclic ring. Heterocyclics include: pyrrolyl, pyrrolinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolyl, imidazolidinyl, pyridyl, piperidyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, oxazolyl, oxazolinyl, oxazolidinyl, isoxazolyl, isoxazolinyl, isoxazolidinyl, morpholinyl, thiazolyl, thiazolidinyl, isothiazolyl, isothiazolidinyl, indolyl, quinolinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzofuranyl, furyl, dihydrofuranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, pyranyl, dihydropyranyl, dioxolanyl, thienyl, benzothienyl and diaxanyl.

In a preferred embodiment the compounds of general formula I have R¹ being hydrogen.

In another preferred embodiment the compounds of general formula I have X being hydrogen.

Another preferred embodiment embraces the compounds of formula I wherein X is hydrogen, R¹ is hydrogen and R² is C₁-C₇ alkyl substituted by COOH or C₁-C₇ alkyl substituted by carboxy-substituted phenyl.

Still another preferred embodiment includes the compounds of formula I wherein Z is Y—Z¹;

R^(c) is H, —COCF₃, —COC₆H₅, —COO(C₁-C₆)alkyl,

 in which R¹⁸ and R¹⁷ are each independently H or (C₁-C₆)alkyl, (C₁-C₁₈)alkyl or (C₁-C₁₈)alkyl substituted by one or more of phenyl or phenyl substituted by 1-5 fluoro, 1-3 halo (other than fluoro), 1-3 (C₁-C₆)alkoxy, 1-3 (C₁-C₆)alkyl, 1-3 nitro, 1-3 cyano, 1-3 hydroxy, 1-3 trifluoromethyl, 1-3 (C₁-C₆)alkylthio, 1-3 amino, 1-3 (C₁-C₆)alkylamino, 1-3 di(C₁-C₆)alkylamino, 1-3 carboxyl, 1-3 —COO(C₁-C₆)alkyl, 1-3 —SO₃H, 1-3 —SO₂NHR¹⁹ in which R¹⁹ is H or (C₁-C₆)alkyl, or

 in which R¹⁸ and R¹⁷ are as defined above;

Z¹ is

(a)

 in which n¹ is 0, 1 or 2 and R²¹ and R²⁰ are phenyl or phenyl substituted by 1-5 fluoro, 1-3 halo (other than fluoro), 1-3 (C₁-C₆)alkoxy, 1-3 (C₁-C₆)alkyl, 1-3 nitro, 1-3 cyano, 1-3 hydroxy, 1-3 trifluoromethyl, 1-3 (C₁-C₆)alkylthio, 1-3 amino, 1-3 (C₁-C₆)alkylamino, 1-3 di(C₁-C₆)alkylamino, 1-3 carboxy, 1-3 —COO(C₁-C₆)alkyl, 1-3 —SO₃H, 1-3 —SO₂NHR¹⁹ in which R¹⁹ is as defined above, or

 in which R¹⁸ and R¹⁷ are as defined above;

(b)

 in which n¹ is 0, 1 or 2 and R²¹ and R²⁰ are as defined above;

(c)

 in which R²¹ and R²⁰ are as defined above;

(d)

 in which R²¹ and R²⁰ are as defined above;

(e)

 in which R²¹ and R²⁰ are as defined above; or

(f)

 in which R²¹ and R²⁰ are as defined above.

A most preferred embodiment is a compound of the formula

wherein X, is O or S(O)_(n);

n is 0, 1 or 2;

R^(a) and R^(b) when taken together form an oxo (═O) group, or R^(a) and R^(b) are each independently hydrogen or OH;

R¹ is hydrogen;

R² is C₁-C₇ alkyl substituted by COOH or C₁-C₇ alkyl substituted by carboxy-substituted phenyl;

Z is Y—Z¹;

Y is —CH₂; and

 in which R²⁰ and R²¹ are phenyl substituted by 1-3 halo; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Some of the compounds described herein contain one or more asymmetric centers and may thus give rise to diastereomers and optical isomers. The present invention is meant to include such possible diastereomers as well as their racemic and resolved, enantiomerically pure forms, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

As mentioned above the invention also includes pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of formula I. A compound of the invention can possess a sufficiently acidic, a sufficiently basic, or both functional groups. Accordingly, a compound may react with any of a number of inorganic bases, and organic and inorganic acids, to form a pharmaceutically acceptable salt.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” as used herein refers to salts of the compounds of formula I which are substantially non-toxic to living organisms. Typical pharmaceutically acceptable salts include those salts prepared by reaction of the compounds of the present invention with a pharmaceutically acceptable mineral or organic acid or an inorganic base. Such salts are known as acid addition and base addition salts.

Acids commonly employed to form acid addition salts are inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydroiodic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, and the like, and organic acids such as p-toluenesulfonic, methanesulfonic acid, oxalic acid, p-bromophenylsulfonic acid, carbonic acid, succinic acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, acetic acid, and the like. Examples of such pharmaceutically acceptable salts are the sulfate, pyrosulfate, bisulfate, sulfite, bisulfite, phosphate, monohydrogen phosphate, dihydrogen phosphate, metaphosphate, pyrophosphate, chloride, bromide, iodide, acetate, propionate, decanoate, caprylate, acrylate, formate, isobutyrate, caproate, heptanoate, propionate, oxalate, malonate, succinate, suberate, sebacate, fumarate, maleate, butyne-1,4-dioate, hexyne-1,6-dioate, benzoate, chlorobenzoate, methylbenzoate, dinitrobenzoate, hydroxybenzoate, methoxybenzoate, phthalate, sulfonate, xylene-sulfonate, phenylacetate, phenylpropionate, phenylbutyrate, citrate, lactate, γ-hydroxybutyrate, glycolate, tartrate, methanesulfonate, propanesulfonate, naphthalene-1-sulfonate, napthalene-2-sulfonate, mandelate and the like. Preferred pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts are those formed with mineral acids such as hydrochloric acid and hydrobromic acid, and those formed with organic acids such as maleic acid and methanesulfonic acid.

Base addition salts include those derived from inorganic bases, such as ammonium or alkali or alkaline earth metal hydroxides, carbonates, bicarbonates, and the like. Such bases useful in preparing the salts of this invention thus include sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, and the like. Suitable organic bases include trialkylamines such as triethylamine, procaine, dibenzylamine, N-benzyl-β-phenethylamine, 1-ephenamine, N,N′-dibenzylethylene-diamine, dehydroabietylamine, N-ethylpiperidine, benzylamine, dicyclohexylamine, or the like pharmaceutically acceptable amines. The potassium and sodium salt forms are particularly preferred.

It should be recognized that the particular counterion forming a part of any salt of this invention is usually not of a critical nature, so long as the salt as a whole is pharmacologically acceptable and as long as the counterion does not contribute undesired qualities to the salt as a whole.

The present invention also includes solvated forms of the compounds of formula I, particularly hydrates, in which the trifluoromethyl ketone group exists as a mixture of ketonic I and hydrated forms II and are each independently interconvertible and pharmacologically active.

Biological Activity

The assay determining the activity as cPLA₂ inhibitors is the following:

³H-arachidonate-labeled U937 membranes were prepared from U937 cells grown in RPMI 1640 medium containing L-glutamine supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum and 50 μg/ml gentamycin in a 5% CO₂ incubator at 37° C. Sixteen hours prior to harvesting the cells, ³H-arachidonate (100 Ci/mmol) was added to the cell culture (1×10⁶ cells/ml, 0.5 μCi/ml). After washing the cells with HBSS (Hank's Balanced Salts) containing 1 mg/ml HSA (Human Serum Albumin), the cells were lysed by nitrogen cavitation and the homogenate was centrifuged at 2,000×g for 10 minutes. The supernatant was further centrifuged at 50,000×g for 30 minutes after which the pellet was resuspended in water and autoclaved at 120° C. for 15 minutes to inactivate any residual phospholipase A₂ activity. This suspension was then recentrifuged at 50,000×g for 30 minutes and the pellet resuspended in distilled water.

Assays of cPLA₂ activity using these ³H-arachidonate-labeled U937 membranes as substrate typically employ human recombinant cPLA₂ [see Burke et al., Biochemistry, 1995, 34: 15165-15174] and membrane substrate (22 μM phospholipid) in 20 mM HEPES [N-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N¹-(2-ethanesulfonic acid)] buffer, pH 8, containing 6 mM CaCl₂, 0.9 mg/ml albumin and 4 M glycerol. Enzyme assays are allowed to proceed for 3 hours at 37° C. before removing the non-hydrolyzed membranes. The hydrolyzed, radiolabeled fatty acid is then measured by liquid scintillation counting of the aqueous phase.

The effects of inhibitor are calculated as percent inhibition of ³H-arachidonate formation, after correcting for nonenzymatic hydrolysis, as compared to a control lacking inhibitor according to the following formula:

percent inhibition=((Control DPM−Inhibitor DPM)/Control DPM)×100%

Various concentrations of an inhibitor were tested, and the percent inhibition at each concentration was plotted as log concentration (abscissa) versus percent inhibition (ordinate) to determine the IC₅₀ values.

In this assay the compounds of Examples 1 shown below exhibited cPLA₂ IC₅₀ values in the range of from about 1 to 50 μM.

Since the compounds of the present invention are selective inhibitors of cytosolic phospholipase A₂, they are of value in the treatment of a wide variety of clinical conditions.

Inflammatory disorders which may be treated by inhibition of cytosolic cPLA₂ include such conditions as arthritis, psoriasis, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, gout, trauma-induced inflammation such as spinal cord injury, Alzheimer's Disease, cerebral ischemia, chronic skin inflammation, shock, damage to skin resulting from exposure to ultraviolet light or burns, allergic rhinitis, acute pancreatitis, and the like.

The compounds of the present invention have also been found to be very stable towards keto-reduction. It has been shown that a reliable method to assess keto-stability of compounds is to measure the percent of such compounds remaining after incubation with erythrocyte lysates [Rady-Pentek P., et al., Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol., 1997, 52(2): 147-153]. The assay is the following.

Male Wistar rates were anesthetized with CO₂ and then blood was removed by direct cardio-puncture or through a pre-inserted jugular vein canula into syringes that were pre-rinsed with heparin. The blood was then inserted into heparanized tubes and placed on ice. The blood was centrifuges as 3000 rpm for 5 minutes to separate the plasma. The plasma was removed and an equivalent volume of sterile water was mixed with the erythrocyte fraction. This was mixed by inversion and left on ice for several minutes to lyse the erythrocytes. The erythrocyte-water mixture was then centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 5 minutes to pellet the cellular debris.

Each compound was dissolved in methanol (1 ml) to produce a 2 mM solution. From this solution, 50 μl aliquot was made up to 1 ml in 50% methanol to produce a 100 μM stock solution. From this solution, a dose solution was prepared by diluting 100 μl to 2 ml of a 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH=7.4) to produce a 2 μM final incubation dilution.

The lysate (250 μl) was then aliquoted into eppendorf tubes, 6 for each compound, i.e. 0 time, 15 minutes, 60 minutes in duplicate. To these aliquots was added 200 μl of the dose solution and this was preheated to 37° C. for 2-3 minutes prior to the addition of NADPH (1 mM final concentration) to start the reactions. The reactions were terminated with the addition of either 0.5 ml or 1 ml of acetonitrile. Following centrifugation at 8000×g for 5 minutes, the supernatant was removed and stored at −20° C. until analysis could proceed by quantitative LC/MS. Samples were analyzed by electrospray ionization (ESI) on a Micromass ZMD 2000® single quadrupole mass spectrometer coupled to a Shimadzu HPLC system. The percent of compound remaining following 15 minutes and 60 minutes incubation is calculated relative to the 0 time point.

Administration Modes

The compounds of formula I are usually administered in the form of pharmaceutical compositions. They can be administered by a variety of routes including oral, rectal, transdermal, subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, and intranasal. The compounds are effective as both injectable and oral compositions. Such compositions are prepared in a manner well known in the pharmaceutical art and comprise at least one active compound defined by formula I and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

In making the compositions employed in the present invention the active ingredient is usually mixed with an excipient, diluted by an excipient or enclosed within a carrier which can be in the form of a capsule, sachet, paper or other container. When the excipient serves as a diluent, it can be a solid, semisolid, or liquid material, which acts as a vehicle, carrier or medium for the active ingredient. Thus, the compositions can be in the form of tablets, pills, powders, lozenges, sachets, cachets, elixirs, suspensions, emulsions, solutions, syrups, aerosols (as a solid or in a liquid medium), ointments containing for example up to 10% by weight of the active compound, soft and hard gelatin capsules, suppositories, sterile injectable solutions, and sterile packaged powders.

In preparing a formulation, it may be necessary to mill the active compound to provide the appropriate particle size prior to combining with the other ingredients. If the active compound is substantially insoluble, it ordinarily is milled to a particle size of less than 200 mesh. If the active compound is substantially water soluble, the particle size is normally adjusted by milling to provide a substantially uniform distribution in the formulation, e.g. about 40 mesh.

Some examples of suitable excipients include lactose, dextrose, sucrose, sorbitol, mannitol, starches, gum acacia, calcium phosphate, alginates, tragacanth, gelatin, calcium silicate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, cellulose, water, syrup and methyl cellulose. The formulations can additionally include: lubricating agents such as talc, magnesium stearate, and mineral oil; wetting agents; emulsifying and suspending agents; preserving agents such as methyl- and propylhydroxybenzoates; sweetening agents; and flavoring agents. The compositions of the invention can be formulated so as to provide quick sustained or delayed release of the active ingredient after administration to the patient by employing procedures known in the art.

The compositions are preferably formulated in a unit dosage form, each dosage containing from about 5 to about 100 mg, more usually about 10 to about 30 mg, of the active ingredient. The term “unit dosage form” refers to physically discrete units suitable as unitary dosages for human subjects and other mammals, each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active material calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect, in association with a suitable pharmaceutical excipient.

The active compound is effective over a wide dosage range. For example, dosages per day normally fall within the range of about 0.5 to about 30 mg/kg of body weight. In the treatment of adult humans, the range of about 1 to about 15 mg/kg/day, in single or divided dose, is especially preferred. However, it will be understood that the amount of the compound actually administered will be determined by a physician, in the light of the relevant circumstances, including the condition to be treated, the chosen route of administration, the actual compound administered, the age, weight, and response of the individual patient, and the severity of the patient's symptoms, and therefore the above dosage ranges are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. In some instances dosage levels below the lower limit of the aforesaid range may be more than adequate, while in other cases still larger doses may be employed without causing any harmful side effect, provided that such larger doses are first divided into several smaller doses for administration throughout the day.

Method of Preparation

The compounds of the present invention can be prepared by various methods which are known in the art. Illustrative methods of preparation are provided in the reaction scheme which follows and in the Examples.

Preparation of compounds of formula I may be accomplished via the synthetic scheme which is described below. The specific examples which follow illustrate the synthesis of representative compounds of the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention in sphere or scope. The methods may be adapted to variations in order to produce compounds embraced by this invention but not specifically disclosed. Further, variations of the methods to produce the same compounds in somewhat different fashion will also be evident to one skilled in the art.

Scheme A describes a method to prepare the various α-substituted thio- and oxo-trifluoromethylketones of generic structure I. Thus, the various phenols or thiophenols of type II may be reacted under Mitsunobu conditions with the various lactic acids or esters III to give the compounds of generic formula IV. Subsequent conversion to the trifluoromethylketone analogs I may be performed by hydrolysis of the esters to the corresponding acids followed by conversion to the acid chloride and treatment with trifluoroacetic anhydride or by direct conversion of the esters using trifluorotrimethylsilane.

SPECIFIC EXAMPLES

The following examples further illustrate the preparation of the compounds of formula I. The examples are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. The following abbreviations have the indicated meanings:

AcOH acetic acid EWG electron-withdrawing groups DIAD diisopropyl azodicarboxylate TFAA trifluoroacetic anhydride THF tetrahydrofuran TFA trifluoroacetic acid EEDQ N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2- dihydroxyquinoline DMF N,N-dimethylformamide DEAD diethyl azodicarboxylate CPBA m-chloroperbenzoic acid Me CH₃ Ph phenyl tBu tert-butyl TBAF tetrabutylammonium fluoride CF3TMS trifluoromethyltrimethylsilane

Analytical grade solvents were used for reactions and chromatographies. Flash column chromatographies were performed on Merck silica gel 60 (230-400 Mesh) and Merck silica gel 60 F₂₅₄ 0.5 mm plates were used. All melting points were determined on a Gallenkamp melting point apparatus and were not corrected. ¹H NMR spectra were measured on a Bruker AMX400 (400 MHz) instruments. Chemical shifts were reported in δ units using the solvent as internal standard. The signals are described as s (singlet), d (doublet), t (triplet), qa (quartet), qi (quintet), m (multiplet) and br (broad). Infrared spectras were recorded on a Perkin-Elmer 781 and optical rotations were measured on a Perkin-Elmer 241 apparatus.

Example 1 3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(5-carboxypentyl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone, Trifluoroacetic Acid Salt

To a mixture of 1,4-dioxane (70 ml) and concentrated sulfuric acid (7 ml) in a pressure bottle was added 6-bromohexanoic acid (10 g, 46.9 mmol). iso-Butene (60 ml) was then introduced to the above solution at 0° C. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 days, cooled to 0° C. and poured slowly into an aqueous solution (200 ml) of sodium bicarbonate (20 g). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 15 minutes and extracted with diethyl ether. The organic phase was washed three times with brine, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was distillated to give the title compound (6 g, 51%) as a colorless liquid (90-95° C./1 mmHg).

Methyl 7-tert-Butoxycarbonyl-2-oxoheptanoate

To a suspension of activated zinc (0.65 g, 10 mmol) in THF (20 ml) was added t-butyl 6-bromohexanoate (1.38 g, 5.5 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 15 hours. The excess zinc was allowed to settle for 2 hours. The solution was then transferred to a pre-formed solution of CuCN (0.45 g, 10.7 mmol) and LiCl (0.45 g, 10.7 mmol) at −20° C. The resulting mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 5 minutes and cooled to −60° C., and methyl chlorooxoacetate (0.68 ml, 5.5 mmol) was added. The resulting mixture was stirred at −60° C. for 1 hour, and reaction temperature allowed to rise gradually to 0° C. over 4 hours. The mixture was then poured into aqueous ammonium chloride, extracted 3 times with ether. The combined organic phase was washed with aqueous ammonium chloride, brine, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to afford the title material (1.1 g) as a pale yellow liquid, which is used directly in next step.

Methyl 7-tert-Butoxycarbonyl-2-hydroxyheptanoate

A solution of crude methyl 7-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-oxoheptanoate (1 g) in 1,2-dichloroethane (10 ml) was treated with sodium triacetoxyborohydride (822 mg, 3.88 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 hours, quenched with sat. aq. sodium bicarbonate and extracted with ether. The organic phase was washed with aq. sodium bicarbonate, brine, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel (hexane:ethyl acetate=4:1) to give the title compound (554 mg, 43%, 2 steps) as a colorless liquid.

3-(4-Tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy-phenyl)-1-methanesulfonyloxy-propane

A solution of 3-(4-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy-phenyl)-1-propanol (P. A. Grieco and C. J. Markworth, Tet. Lett., 1999, 40: 665) (2.86 g, 10.73 mmol) in dry dichloromethane (25 ml), was cooled to 0-5° C. and treated with triethylamine (2.4 ml, 17.0 mmol). Then methanesulfonyl chloride (1.08 ml, 14 mmol) was added dropwise over 10 minutes. The reaction mixture was stirred at 0-5° C. for 1 hour, then quenched with sat. sodium bicarbonate, diluted with ethyl acetate (300 mL), washed with water, brine, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. The residue was filtered aon a silica gel pad (toluene/ethyl acetate 95:5) to give the title material (3.68 g, 100%) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (CDCl₃, δ, ppm): 0.198 (6H, s, 2×—CH₃), 0.99 (9H, s, -tBu), 2.04-2.07 (2H, m, —CH₂—), 2.69 (2H, t, J=7.3 Hz, Ar—CH ₂—), 2.99 (3H, s, —SO₂Me), 4.23 (2H, t, J=6.4 Hz, —CH₂O—), 6.78 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz, aromatic H), 7.04 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz, aromatic H). Anal. Calcd. for C₁₆H₂₈O₄SSi: C, 55.78; H, 8.19. Found: C, 55.92; H, 8.16.

4-[3-[N-[2-bis-(4-Chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]-tertbutyidimethylsilyloxybenzene

A solution of 3-(4-tert-butyidimethylsilyloxy-phenyl)-1-methanesulfonyloxy-propane (3.60 g, 10.45 mmol) in acetonitrile (30 ml) was treated with N-methyl-2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethylamine (B. E. Maryanoff, S. O. Nortey and J. F. Gardocki, J. Med. Chem., 1984, 27: 1067) (3.07 g, 10.97 mmol) and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (2.73 ml, 15.67 mmol). Then potassium iodide (0.14 g) was added and the mixture was heated under reflux for 18 hours. The mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate, washed with 5% aq. sodium carbonate, brine, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. The residual orange oil was purified by silica gel chromatography (toluene/ethyl acetate 95:5) to give the title material (5.18 g, 94%).

¹H NMR (CDCl₃, δ, ppm): 0.19 (6H, s, 2×—CH₃), 0.99 (9H, s, -tBu), 2.25 (3H, br s, —NCH₃), 2.37-2.46 (4H, m, 2×—NCH₂—), 2.87 (2H, br s, —CH₂O—), 4.05 (1H, br s, —CH(Ar)₂), 6.75 and 6.94 (2×2H, 2 d, J=8.4 Hz, aromatic H), 7.14 and 7.26 (2×4H, 2 d, J=8.5 Hz, aromatic H). Anal. Calcd. for C₃₀H₃₉Cl₂NOSi: C, 68.16; H, 7.44. Found: C, 68.22; H, 7.41. MS (ESI): 528 (M+H)⁺.

4-[3-[N-[2-bis-(4-Chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenol

A solution of 4-[3-[N-[2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]-tertbutyldimethylsilyloxybenzene (1.90 g, 3.59 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran ((20 ml) was treated with acetic acid (1.2 ml, 21.5 mmol) followed by tetrabutylammonium fluoride (1M in tetrahydrofuran, 10.8 ml, 10.8 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at 22° C. for 2 hours. The mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate, washed with sat. sodium bicarbonate, brine, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. The residual oil was purified by silica gel chromatography (toluene/ethyl acetate 8:2 to 7:3) and gave the title material (1.50 g, 100%) as an oil.

¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆, δ, ppm): 1.54 (2H, m, —CH₂—), 2.15 (3H, s, —NCH₃), 2.25-2.32 (4H, m, ArCH₂— and —CH₂N—), 2.84 (2H, d, J=8.0 Hz, —NCH ₂—CH—), 4.23 (1H, t, J=8.0 Hz, —CH(Ar)₂), 6.62 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz, aromatic H), 6.85 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz, aromatic H), 7.30 (8H, s, aromatic H). Anal. Calcd. for C₂₄H₂₅Cl₂NO. HCl: C, 61.96; H, 5.98; N, 3.01. Found: C, 61.99; H, 5.85; N, 3.06. MS (ESI): 414 (M+H)⁺.

Methyl 2-[4-[3-[N-[2-bis-(4-Chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-2-(5-tert-butyloxycarbonylpentyl)-ethanoate

To a solution of 4-[3-[N-[2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenol (182 mg, 0.439 mmol), methyl 7-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-hydroxyheptanoate (114 mg 0.439 mmol) and triphenyl phospine (127 mg, 0.483 mmol) in THF (2 ml) was added dropwise diethyl azodicarboxylate (76 μl, 0.483 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 hours and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel (hexane:ethyl acetate:triethylamine=18:1:1) to give the title compound (162 mg, 56%) as a colorless oil.

3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(5-tert-butyloxycarbonylpentyl)-2-methoxy-2-trimethylsilyloxy-1,1,1-trifluoropropane

A solution of methyl 2-[4-[3-[N-[2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-2-(5-tert-butyloxycarbonylpentyl)-ethanoate (103 mg, 0.157 mmol) and trifluoromethyltrimethylsilane (210 μl, 1.4 mmol) in toluene (1 ml) at −78° C. was treated with tetrabutyl ammonium fluoride (1.0 M in THF, 8 μl, 0.008 mmol). The cooling bath was removed, and reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 0.5 hours and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel (hexane:ethyl acetate=1:0 to 5:1) to give the title compound (80 mg, 64%) as a pale yellow oil.

3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(5-tert-butyloxycarbonylpentyl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone

A solution of 3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(5-tert-butyloxycarbonylpentyl)-2-methoxy-2-trimethylsilyloxy-1,1,1-trifluoropropane (52 mg, 0.065 mmol) in THF (1 ml) was treated with a mixture of tetrabutylammonium fluoride and acetic acid (1.0M in THF, 79 μl, 0.079 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 10 minutes, diluted with ethyl acetate, washed with sat. aq. sodium bicarbonate, brine, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel (hexane:ethyl acetate=2:1) to give the title compound (43 mg, 95%) as a colorless oil.

Treatment of the above free amine with anhydrous hydrogen chloride (1.0 M in ether) gave the hydrochloride salt as a colorless syrup.

3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(5-carboxypentyl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone, Trifluoroacetic Acid Salt

A solution of 3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(5-tert-butyloxycarbonylpentyl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone (32 mg, 0.046 mmol) in dichloromethane (1 ml) was treated with trifluoroacetic acid (0.2 ml). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour and concentrated in vacuo to give the trifluoroacetic acid salt of the title compound as a colorless syrup.

Example 2 3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-Chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(3-carboxypropyl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone, Trifluoroacetic Acid Salt

t-Butyl 4-Bromobutanoate

4-Bromobutanoic acid (8 g, 47.9 mmol) and iso-butene (60 ml) were reacted by the same procedure as described in Example 1 for the preparation of tert-butyl 6-bromohexanoate to give the title material (5.7 g, 54%) as a colorless liquid (b.p. 62-64° C./10 mmHg).

Methyl 5-tert-Butoxycarbonyl-2-oxopentanoate

t-Butyl 4-bromobutanoate (1.22 g, 5.49 mmol), activated zinc (0.75 g in 15 ml of THF) and methyl chlorooxoacetate (0.74 ml, 6 mmol) were reacted by the same procedure as described in Example 1 for the preparation of methyl 7-tert-butyoxycarbonyl-2-oxoheptanoate to give the crude title material (1.08 g) as a colorless liquid which is used directly in next step.

Methyl 5-tert-Butoxycarbonyl-2-hydroxypentanoate

Crude methyl 5-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-oxopentanoate (1.08 g, 4.7 mmol) and sodium triacetoxyborohydride (1.0 g, 4.7 mmol) were reacted by the same procedure as described in Example 1 for the preparation of methyl 7-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-hydroxyheptanoate to give the title compound (854 mg, 78%, 2 steps) as a colorless liquid.

Methyl 3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-2-(3-tert-butoxycarbonylpropyl)-ethanoate

4-[3-[N-[2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenol (275 mg, 0.664 mmol) and methyl 5-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-hydroxypentanoate (154 mg, 0.664 mmol) were reacted by the same procedure as described in Example 1 for the preparation of methyl 2-[4-[3-[N-[2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-2-(5-tert-butyloxycarbonylpentyl)-ethanoate to give the title compound (140 mg, 34%) as a colorless oil.

3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(3-tert-butyloxycarbonylpropyl)-2-methoxy-2-trimethylsilyloxy-1,1,1-trifluoropropane

Methyl 3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4 -chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-2-(3 -tert-butoxycarbonylpropyl)-ethanoate (119 mg, 0.189 mmol) and trifluoromethyl trimethylsilane (280 μl, 1.89 mmol) were reacted by the general procedure as described in the preparation of 3-[4-[3-[N-[2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(5-tert-butyloxycarbonylpentyl)-2-methoxy-2-trimethylsilyloxy-1,1,1-trifluoropropane to give the title compound (130 mg, 89%) as a pale yellow oil.

3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(3-tert-butyloxycarbonylpropyl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone

3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(3-tert-butoxycarbonylpropyl)-2-methoxy-2-trimethylsilyloxy-1,1,1-trifluoropropane (125 mg, 0.162 mmol) and a mixture of tetrabutylammonium fluoride and acetic acid (1.0 M in THF, 194 μl, 0.194 mmol) were reacted by the general procedure as described in Example 1 for the preparation of 3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(5-tert-butyloxycarbonylpentyl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone to give the title compound (87 mg, 81%) as a colorless oil.

3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(3-carboxypropyl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone, Trifluoroacetic Acid Salt

3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-4-tert-butyloxycarbonylpropyl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone and trifluoroacetic acid were reacted by the general procedure as described in Example 1 for the preparation of 3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(6-carboxyhexyl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone, trifluoroacetic salt to give the title compound as a colorless syrup.

Example 3 3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(2-carboxyethyl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone, Trifluoroacetic Acid Salt

Tert-butyl 3-bromopropanoic Acid

3-Bromopropanoic acid (8.2 g, 53.6 mmol) and iso-butene (60 ml) were reacted by the same procedure as described in Example 1 for the preparation of tert-butyl 6-bromohexanoate and afforded the title material (4 g, 36%) as a colorless liquid.

Methyl 4-tert-Butoxycarbonyl-2-oxobutanoate

3-Bromopropanoic acid, tert-butyl ester (2.2 g, 10.6 mmol), activated zinc (1.25 g in 25 ml of THF) and methyl chlorooxoacetate (1.4 ml, 11.4 mmol) were reacted by the same procedure as described in Example 1 for the preparation of methyl 7-tert-butyoxycarbonyl-2-oxoheptanoate to give the crude title material (1.65 g) as a colorless liquid which is used directly in next step.

Methyl 4-tert-Butoxycarbonyl-2-hydroxybutanoate

Crude methyl 4-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-oxobutanoate (1.65 g, 7.6 mmol) and sodium triacetoxyborohydride (1.6 g, 7.6 mmol) were reacted by the same procedure as described in Example 1 for the preparation of methyl 7-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-hydroxyheptanoate to give the title compound (460 mg, 28% 2 steps) as a colorless liquid.

Methyl 2-[4-[3-[N-[2-bis-(4-Chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-2-(2-tert-butyloxycarbonylethyl)-ethanoate

4-[3-[N-[2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenol (832 mg, 2.01 mmol) and methyl 4-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-hydroxybutanoate (455 mg, 2.01 mmol) in benzene (10 ml) were reacted by the same procedure as described in Example 1 for the preparation of methyl 2-[4-[3-[N-[2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-2-(5-tert-butyloxycarbonylpentyl)-ethanoate and afforded the title compound (515 mg, 42%) as a colorless oil.

3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(2-tert-butyloxycarbonylethyl)-2-methoxy-2-trimethylsilyloxy-1,1,1-trifluoropropane

Methyl 2-[4-[3-[N-[2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-2-(2-tert-butyloxycarbonylethyl)-ethanoate (505 mg, 0.822 mmol) and trifluoromethyl trimethylsilane (0.6 ml, 4.11 mmol) were reacted by the general procedure as described in Example 1 for the preparation of 3-[4-[3-[N-[2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(5-tert-butyloxycarbonylpentyl)-2-methoxy-2-trimethylsilyloxy-1,1,1-trifluoropropane to give the title compound (600 mg, 96%) as a pale yellow oil.

3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(2-tert-butyloxycarbonylethyl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone

3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(2-tert-butyloxycarbonylethyl)-2-methoxy-2-trimethylsilyloxy-1,1,1-trifluoropropane (150 mg, 0.198 mmol) and a mixture of tetrabutylammonnium fluoride and acetic acid (1.0 M in THF, 240 μl, 0.24 mmol) were reacted by the general procedure as described in Example 1 for the preparation of 3-[4-[3-[N-[2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(5-tert-butyloxycarbonylpentyl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone to give the title compound (120 mg, 93%) as a pale yellow oil.

Treatment of the above free amine with anhydrous hydrogen chloride (1.0 M in ether) gave the hydrochloride salt as a pale yellow syrup.

3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-Chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(2-carboxyethyl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone, Trifluoroacetic Acid Salt

3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(2-tert-butyloxycarbonylethyl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone was reacted by the general procedure as described in Example 1 for the preparation of 3-[4-[3-[N-[2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(5-carboxypentyl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone, trifluoroacetic salt to give the title compound as a pale yellow sticky solid.

Example 4 3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-Chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(3-carboxyphenylethyl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone, Trifluoroacetic Acid Salt

t-Butyl 3-Iodobenzoate

3-lodobenzoic (5 g, 20 mmol) acid and iso-butene (30 ml) were reacted by the same procedure as described in Example 1 for the preparation of tert-butyl 6-bromohexanoate and afforded the title material (4.2 g, 68%) as a pale yellow oil.

Methyl 4-(3-tert-Butoxycarbonylphenyl)butanoate

A mixture of tert-butyl 3-iodobenzoate (2 g, 6.58 mmol) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (250 mg, 0.329 mmol) in THF (10 ml) was treated with a freshly prepared 3-methoxycarbonylpropylzinc iodide (0.25 M in THF, 27 ml, 6.58 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours, quenched with saturated aqueous ammonium chloride (5 ml) and extracted with diethyl ether. The organic phase was washed with saturated aqueous ammonium chloride, brine, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel (hexane:ethyl acetate=9:1) to give the title material (0.73 g, 40%) as a colorless oil.

Methyl 4-(3-tert-Butoxycarbonylphenyl)-2-hydroxybutanoate

To a solution of methyl 4-(3-tert-butoxycarbonylphenyl)butanoate (200 mg, 0.71 mmol) in THF (2 ml) at −78° C. was added dropwise potasium bis(trimethyl)amide (0.5 M in toluene, 1.6 ml, 0.8 mmol). The mixture was stirred at this temperature for 0.5 hours and treated with dropwise addition of a solution of trans-2-phenylsulfonyl-3-phenyloxaziridine (223 mg, 0.8 mmol) in THF (2 ml). The mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 3 hours, quenched with aqueous ammonium chloride, warmed room temperature and diluted with ethyl acetate. The organic phase was washed with aqueous ammonium chloride, brine, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel (hexane:ethyl acetate=9:1) to give the title compound (90 mg, 43%) as a pale yellow oil.

Methyl 3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-Chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-2-(3-tert-butoxycarbonylphenylethyl)-ethanoate

4-[3-[N-[2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenol (320 mg, 0.77 mmol) and methyl 4-(3-tert-butoxycarbonylphenyl)-2-hydroxybutanoate (175 mg, 0.59 mmol) in benzene (3 ml) were reacted by the same procedure as described in Example 1 for the preparation of methyl 2-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-2-(5-tert-butoxycarbonylpentyl)-ethanoate and afforded the title compound (205 mg, 49%) as a pale yellow oil.

3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-Chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(3-tert-butyloxycarbonylphenylethyl)-2-methoxy-2-trimethylsilyloxy-1,1,1-trifluoropropane

Methyl 3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy] 2-(3-tert-butoxycarbonylphenylethyl)-ethanoate (150 mg, 0.22 mmol) and trifluoromethyl trimethylsilane (0.235 ml, 2.2 mmol) were reacted by the general procedure as described in Example 1 for the preparation of 3-[4-[3-[N-[2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(5-tert-butyloxycarbonylpentyl)-2-methoxy-2-trimethylsilyloxy-1,1,1-trifluoropropane to give the title compound (103 mg, 56%) as a pale yellow oil.

3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-Chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(3-tert-butyloxycarbonylphenylethyl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone

3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(3-tert-butyloxycarbonylphenylethyl)-2-methoxy-2-trifluoromethylsilyloxy-1,1,1-trifluoropropane (100 mg, 0.12 mmol) and a mixture of tetrabutylammonium fluoride and acetic acid (1.0 M in THF, 160 μl, 0.16 mmol) were reacted by the general procedure as described in Example 1 for the preparation of 3-[4-[3-[N-[2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(5-tert-butyloxycarbonylpentyl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone to give the title compound (63 mg, 72%) as a colorless oil.

3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-Chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(3-carboxyphenylethyl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone, Trifluoroacetic Acid Salt

3-[4-[3-[N-[2-Bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(3-tert-butyloxycarbonylphenylethyl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone (60 mg, 0.08 mmol) and trifluoroacetic acid were reacted by the general procedure as described in Example 1 for the preparation of 3-[4-[3-[N-[2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylamino]propyl]phenoxy]-3-(5-carboxypentyl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone, trifluoroacetic acid salt to give the title compound (65 mg, 100%) as a white foamy solid. 

What is claimed:
 1. A compound of the formula

wherein: X₁ is O or S(O)_(n); n is 0, 1or 2; R^(a) and R^(b) when taken together form an oxo (═O) group, or R^(a) and R^(b) are each independently hydrogen or OH; X is H, CF₃, halogen, NR³R⁴, NH(CO)NHR³R⁴, C(O)NR³R⁴, OH, OR⁸, SH, S(O)_(n)R⁸, C(O)OR⁶, NH(CO)OR⁸, C₁-C₇ alkyl, C₂-C₇ alkenyl, C₂-C₇ alkynyl or C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, said alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or cycloalkyl group being optionally substituted by COOR⁶, CN, C(O)NR³R⁴, PO₃R⁶, SO₃R⁶, heterocyclic, OH, OR⁸, SH, S(O)_(n)R⁸, NR³R⁴, NH(CO)NR³R⁴, NH(CO)OR⁸, OC(O)OR⁸, aryl or heteroaryl, said aryl or heteroaryl being optionally substituted by one or two groups independently selected from COOR⁶, SO₃R⁶, OCOR⁶, PO₃R⁶ or heterocyclic; R¹ and R² are each independently H, substituted C₁-C₇ alkyl, C₂-C₇ alkenyl, C₂-C₇ alkynyl or C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, said alkyl group being substituted by, and said alkenyl, alkynyl or cycloalkyl group being optionally substituted by, COOR⁶, CN, C(O)NR³R⁴, PO₃R⁶, SO₃R⁶, heterocyclic, OH, OR⁸, SH, S(O)_(n)R⁸, NR³R⁴, NH(CO)NR³R⁴, NH(CO)OR⁷, OC(O)OR⁷, aryl or heteroaryl, said aryl or heteroaryl group being optionally substituted by one or two groups independently selected from COOR⁶, SO₃R⁶, PO₃R⁶ or heterocyclic; R³ and R⁴ are each independently H, C₁-C₇ alkyl, C₂-C₇ alkenyl, C₂-C₇ alkynyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, heterocyclic or aryl, said alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclic or aryl group being optionally substituted with COOR⁶, CN, OR⁶, NR⁶R⁷, SO₃R⁶, PO₃R⁶, halogen, aryl or heteroaryl, said aryl or heteroaryl substituent being optionally substituted with one or two groups independently selected from COOR⁶, SO₃R⁶, PO₃R⁶ or heterocyclic; R⁵ is H, C₁-C₇ alkyl or C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, said alkyl or cycloalkyl group being optionally substituted by COOR⁶, CN, C(O)NR³R⁴, PO₃R⁶, SO₃R⁶, heterocyclic, OR³, S(O)_(n)R⁸, NR³R⁴, NH(CO)NR³R⁴, NH(CO)OR⁸, C(O)₂OR⁸, aryl or heteroaryl, said aryl or heteroaryl group being optionally substituted by one or two groups independently selected from COOR⁶, SO₃R⁶, PO₃R⁶ or heterocyclic; R⁶ and R⁷ are independently H, C₁-C₇ alkyl or C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl; R⁸ is the same as R³ but cannot be H; Z is OR⁹, S(O)_(n)R⁹, NR⁹R¹⁰ or CHR⁹R¹⁰; R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently hydrogen, C₁-C₇ alkyl, C₂-C₇ alkenyl, C₂-C₇ alkynyl or C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, said alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or cycloalkyl group being optionally substituted with NR¹¹R¹², SR¹¹, S(O)R¹⁶, SO₂R¹⁶ or OR¹¹, with the proviso that both R⁹ and R¹⁰ may not both be hydrogen; R¹¹ and R¹² are each independently H, C₁-C₇ alkyl, C₂-C₇ alkenyl, C₂-C₇ alkynyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl or aryl, said alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl or aryl group being optionally substituted by 1-3 COOR⁶, OR⁶, SiR¹³R¹⁴R¹⁵, OR¹³, aryl, biaryl or heteroaryl, said aryl, biaryl or heteroaryl group being optionally substituted with 1-3 halogen, CF₃, OR⁶, COOR⁶, NO₂ or CN, or R¹¹ and R¹² taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring with one or more O, N or S heteroatoms, said heterocyclic ring being optionally substituted with COOR⁶ or C₁-C₅ alkyl optionally substituted with OR⁶, COOR⁶ or C(O)NR³R⁴; and R¹³, R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are each independently aryl, benzyl, benzhydryl, biaryl, heteroaryl, aryl(C₁-C₆)alkyl or heteroaryl(C₁-C₆)alkyl, said aryl group being optionally substituted with halogen, CF₃, OR⁶, COOR⁶, NO₂, CN or C₁-C₇ alkyl; R¹⁶ is the same as R¹¹ and R¹² but is not hydrogen; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, with the proviso that R¹ and R² may not both be hydrogen.
 2. A compound of claim 1 wherein R¹ is H.
 3. A compound of claim 2 wherein X₁ is O.
 4. A compound of claim 2 in which X₁ is S(O)_(n) in which n is 0, 1 or
 2. 5. A compound of the formula

wherein: X₁ is O or S(O)_(n); n is 0, 1 or 2; R^(a) and R^(b) when taken together form an oxo (═O) group, or R^(a) and R^(b) are each independently hydrogen or OH; X is H; R¹ is H; R² is C₁-C₇ alkyl substituted by COOH or C₁-C₇ alkyl substituted by carboxy-substituted phenyl; Z is OR⁹, S(O)_(n)R⁹, NR⁹R¹⁰ or CHR⁹R¹⁰; R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently hydrogen, C₁-C₇ alkyl, C₂-C₇ alkenyl, C₂-C₇ alkynyl or C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, said alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or cycloalkyl group being optionally substituted with NR¹¹R¹², SR¹¹, S(O)R¹⁶, SO₂R¹⁶ or OR¹¹, with the proviso that both R⁹ and R¹⁰ may not both be hydrogen; R¹¹ and R¹² are each independently H, C₁-C₇ alkyl, C₂-C₇ alkenyl, C₂-C₇ alkynyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl or aryl, said alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl or aryl group being optionally substituted by 1-3 COOR⁶, OR⁶, SiR¹³R¹⁴R¹⁵, OR¹³, aryl, biaryl or heteroaryl, said aryl, biaryl or heteroaryl group being optionally substituted with 1-3 halogen, CF₃, OR⁶, COOR⁶, NO₂ or CN, or R¹¹ and R¹² taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring with one or more O, N or S heteroatoms, said heterocyclic ring being optionally substituted with COOR⁶ or C₁-C₅ alkyl optionally substituted with OR⁶, COOR⁶ or C(O)NR³R⁴; R⁶ and R⁷ are independently H, C₁-C₇ alkyl or C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl; R¹³, R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are each independently aryl, benzyl, benzhydryl, biaryl, heteroaryl, aryl(C₁-C₆)alkyl or heterocyclic(C₁-C₆)alkyl, said aryl group being optionally substituted with halogen, CF₃, OR⁶, COOR⁶, NO₂, CN or C₁-C₇ alkyl; R³ and R⁴ are each independently H, C₁-C₇ alkyl, C₂-C₇ alkenyl, C₂-C₇ alkynyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, heterocyclic or aryl, said alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclic or aryl group being optionally substituted with COOR⁶, CN, OR⁶, NR⁶R⁷, SO₃R⁶, PO₃R⁶, halogen, aryl or heteroaryl, said aryl or heteroaryl substituent being optionally substituted with one or two groups independently selected from COOR⁶, SO₃R⁶, PO₃R⁶ or heterocyclic; and R¹⁶ is the same as R¹¹ and R¹² but is not hydrogen; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 6. A compound of any of claims 1-5 wherein: Z is Y—Z¹;

R^(c) is H, —COCF₃, —COC₆H₅, —COO(C₁-C₆)alkyl,

 in which R¹⁸ and R¹⁷ are each independently H or (C₁-C₆)alkyl, (C₁-C₁₈)alkyl or (C₁-C₁₈)alkyl substituted by one or more of phenyl or phenyl substituted by 1-5 fluoro, 1-3 halo (other than fluoro), 1-3 (C₁-C₆)alkoxy, 1-3 (C₁-C₆)alkyl, 1-3 nitro, 1-3 cyano, 1-3 hydroxy, 1-3 trifluoromethyl, 1-3 (C₁-C₆)alkylthio, 1-3 amino, 1-3 (C₁-C₆)alkylamino, 1-3 di(C₁-C₆)alkylamino, 1-3 carboxyl, 1-3 —COO(C₁-C₆)alkyl, 1-3 —SO₃H, 1-3 —SO₂NHR¹⁹ in which R¹⁹ is H or (C₁-C₆)alkyl, or

 in which R¹⁸ and R¹⁷ are as defined above; Z¹ is (a)

 in which n¹ is 0, 1 or 2 and R²¹ and R²⁰ are phenyl or phenyl substituted by 1-5 fluoro, 1-3 halo (other than fluoro), 1-3 (C₁-C₆)alkoxy, 1-3 (C₁-C₆)alkyl, 1-3 nitro, 1-3 cyano, 1-3 hydroxy, 1-3 trifluoromethyl, 1-3 (C₁-C₆)alkylthio, 1-3 amino, 1-3 (C₁-C₆)alkylamino, 1-3 di(C₁-C₆)alkylamino, 1-3 carboxy, 1-3 —COO(C₁-C₆)alkyl, 1-3 —SO₃H, 1-3 —SO₂NHR¹⁹ in which R¹⁹ is as defined above, or

 in which R¹⁸ and R¹⁷ are as defined above; (b)

 in which n¹ is 0, 1 or 2 and R²¹ and R²⁰ are as defined above; (c)

 in which R²¹ and R²⁰ are as defined above; (d)

 in which R²¹ and R²⁰ are as defined above; (e)

 in which R²¹ and R²⁰ are as defined above; or (f)

 in which R²¹ and R²⁰ are as defined above.
 7. A compound of the formula

wherein: X_(i) is O or S(O)_(n); n is 0, 1 or 2; R^(a) and R^(b) when taken together form an oxo (═O) group, or R^(a) and R^(b) are each independently hydrogen or OH; X is H, CF₃, halogen, NR³R⁴, NH(CO)NHR³R⁴, C(O)NR³R⁴, OH, OR⁸, SH, S(O)_(n)R⁸, C(O)OR⁶, NH(CO)OR⁸, C₁-C₇ alkyl, C₂-C₇ alkenyl, C₂-C₇ alkynyl or C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, said alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or cycloalkyl group being optionally substituted by COOR⁶, CN, C(O)NR³R⁴, PO₃R⁶, SO₃R⁶, heterocyclic, OH, OR⁸, SH, S(O)_(n)R⁸, NR³R⁴, NH(CO)NR³R⁴, NH(CO)OR⁸, OC(O)OR⁸, aryl or heteroaryl, said aryl or heteroaryl being optionally substituted by one or two groups independently selected from COOR⁶, SO₃R⁶, OCOR⁶, PO₃R⁶ or heterocyclic; R¹ and R² are each independently H, substituted C₁-C₇ alkyl, C₂-C₇ alkenyl, C₂-C₇ alkynyl or C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, said alkyl group being substituted by, and said alkenyl, alkynyl or cycloalkyl group being optionally substituted by, COOR⁶, CN, C(O)NR³R⁴, PO₃R⁶, SO₃R⁶, heterocyclic, OH, OR⁸, SH S(O)_(n)R⁸, NR³R⁴, NH(CO)NR³R⁴, NH(CO)OR⁷, OC(O)OR⁷, aryl or heteroaryl, said aryl or heteroaryl group being optionally substituted by one or two groups independently selected from COOR⁶, SO₃R⁶, PO₃R⁶ or heterocyclic; R³ and R⁴ are each independently H, C₁-C₇ alkyl, C₂-C₇ alkenyl, C₂-C₇ alkynyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, heterocyclic or aryl, said alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclic or aryl group being optionally substituted with COOR⁶, CN, OR⁶, NR⁶R⁷, SO₃R⁶, PO₃R⁶, halogen, aryl or heteroaryl, said aryl or heteroaryl substituent being optionally substituted with one or two groups independently selected from COOR⁶, SO₃R⁶, PO₃R⁶ or heterocyclic; R⁶ and R⁷ are independently H, C₁-C₇ alkyl or C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl; R⁸ is the same as R³ but cannot be H; and Z is

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, with the proviso that R¹ and R² may not both be hydrogen.
 8. A pharmaceutical composition for the inhibition of cytosolic phospholipase A₂ comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 9. A method of inhibiting cytosolic phospholipase A₂ in a mammal in need thereof, comprising administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim
 1. 